The move to Garden City and my birth in 1951

The move from the city to the suburbs was a huge trend after the war. My Aunt and Uncle were living in Garden City, on Long Island. My parents also found a lot here, on the corner of Brixton Road and Merillon Avenue - the new address was 11 Merillon Avenue. It was a perfect location- a pretty corner quarter acre lot with nice trees just two blocks from the train station, where my father could catch the Long Island Railroad into work in the city. They had plans drawn up and the new house- a shingled cape cod- was built. At first everyone lived on the main floor- two bedrooms, a bath, a kitchen and a living room. There was room upstairs and downstairs for expansion later on.

Garden City was a beautiful town, very convenient to New York City which was just a short drive or train ride away. In the meantime, Garden City offered the best that suburban life had to offer- pretty homes on lovely tree lined streets, excellent schools, and a quaint business district. It was a pleasant, safe environment for raising children.

        I was born on in June, 1951. My mother said I had a full head of black hair,  and my doctor pronounced, "It's a papoose!" 

I was baptized at the Cathedral of the Incarnation in Garden City. My godparents were my parents best friends; Rollie and Anita Bayless, and my aunt, Aletheia Garrison Hainfeld.

Baptismal Font in the Cathedral

 I shared a nursery on the first floor of our home with my sister, Ellen.

I still have the candle holder on the dresser, and my sister still has this rocking chair. Notice the play telephones of the era!

Ellen and I posing on our parents' bed

         

The first rose in the garden my father was just starting...

       

First Christmas- December 1951

First Birthday

I was off to a great start!